Duty free alcohol allowance calculation

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BorisWood

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For years, Express card has been useless for us inbound as we have things to declare. However, on the last 2 trips into Melbourne, early December and then yesterday, the express line goes to the person who takes your card and directs you to the right line for checking or to the exit. In December we declared wooden items and were directed to the quarantine line and then promptly sent to the exit without having to show items. Yesterday, we declared excess grog (sake from Japan) and were thanked for declaring and sent straight to the exit. I had about 4.3 litres of sake (6 bottles). My wife had 2 litres of gin which was her duty free allowance. I'm interested to know how much grog they would actually make you pay duty/GST on.
 
Yesterday, we declared excess grog (sake from Japan) and were thanked for declaring and sent straight to the exit. I had about 4.3 litres of sake (6 bottles). My wife had 2 litres of gin which was her duty free allowance. I'm interested to know how much grog they would actually make you pay duty/GST on.

I do this all the time, and I always declare.

I'm usually bringing rum back from the Americas. My biggest haul was around 20L, and always at least 10L. (I often rely on other pax in my party to get

1x my bag missed the connection in LAX - I asked Qantas in SYD if I had to make a customs declaration, they said no. Bag was delivered to my home in Newcastle with no questions asked.
1x I declared (this was the ~20L run), they gave my mate 6L of it and said it was his duty free allowance. As for the rest, they found a bottle of flavoured rum which was 21%, and charged duty based on that ABV for the entire load. Ended up around $150 in duty (as opposed to about $500).
1x I declared, they sent me to the inspection station, I got a sob story that they were short on staff and I normally would have to pay duty, and I should take it as a warning and I shouldn't do it again. I said I knew full well what I was doing, I declared it, it is completely legal and I am prepared to pay the duty in full. "Oh right - yeah I guess that's true. On your way..."
The remainder (at least 4 other times) I've just been sent through the nothing to declare line. Once was on 23 Dec, and the lady did say "Just because it's Christmas"....

The time above I did pay took them about half an hour to process, with about 3 different staff members. It's really not worth their while in personal quantities. That's why I think for the most part, as long as you declare it, you'll be sent through. Just make sure you are honest and up front about it, and be prepared to pay. I've always expected to pay (I have a spreadsheet ready for them with the prices, quantities, ABV and duty already calculated, so I know full well what I'm up for).
 
I do this all the time, and I always declare.

I'm usually bringing rum back from the Americas. My biggest haul was around 20L, and always at least 10L. (I often rely on other pax in my party to get

1x my bag missed the connection in LAX - I asked Qantas in SYD if I had to make a customs declaration, they said no. Bag was delivered to my home in Newcastle with no questions asked.
1x I declared (this was the ~20L run), they gave my mate 6L of it and said it was his duty free allowance. As for the rest, they found a bottle of flavoured rum which was 21%, and charged duty based on that ABV for the entire load. Ended up around $150 in duty (as opposed to about $500).
1x I declared, they sent me to the inspection station, I got a sob story that they were short on staff and I normally would have to pay duty, and I should take it as a warning and I shouldn't do it again. I said I knew full well what I was doing, I declared it, it is completely legal and I am prepared to pay the duty in full. "Oh right - yeah I guess that's true. On your way..."
The remainder (at least 4 other times) I've just been sent through the nothing to declare line. Once was on 23 Dec, and the lady did say "Just because it's Christmas"....

The time above I did pay took them about half an hour to process, with about 3 different staff members. It's really not worth their while in personal quantities. That's why I think for the most part, as long as you declare it, you'll be sent through. Just make sure you are honest and up front about it, and be prepared to pay. I've always expected to pay (I have a spreadsheet ready for them with the prices, quantities, ABV and duty already calculated, so I know full well what I'm up for).

Can you tell me the method and amount payable for alcoholic beverages please? I had expected to pay but didn't know how much. We drink sake which is expensive in Oz and not much choice. It is typically 16-17% alcohol. Also, what do you use to transport all that grog? Anything special or just the original boxes with some extra padding?
 
Can you tell me the method and amount payable for alcoholic beverages please? I had expected to pay but didn't know how much. We drink sake which is expensive in Oz and not much choice. It is typically 16-17% alcohol. Also, what do you use to transport all that grog? Anything special or just the original boxes with some extra padding?

Sure.

Lets say 10L of rum, 35%, bought at US$150.

1. Volume of beverage * ABV (as percentage) = total volume of pure alcohol
So 10 * 0.35 = 3.5L

2. Add the total purchase price excluding tax. Convert to AUD.
AUD$212

3. Look up the customs tarrif for beverage of choice. Multiply that by the volume.
Link is here: Chapter 22

For rum, it's $85.36/L (again, this is L of pure alcohol, not L of rum)
So, 85.36 * 3.5 = $298.76.

Some tarrifs include a value percentage as well (ie, $80/L + 5%). If that's the case, add that component too.
For rum, this would be an additional $10.60. However, there's lots of national exceptions, which will exclude this. This component is not applicable to US rum.

4. Add the numbers for part 3, that is the total duty.
So $298.76

5. Add this to the value of the goods.
$298.76 + 212
= $510.76.

6. Calculate GST at 10% of part 5. That is the total GST.
=$51.07

7. Add parts 4 and 6 together. That's the total payable.
=$349.83.

Through the mail they can also charge you an assessment fee (they also count the shipping cost in the calculation of GST). I don't believe they do that in person and they didn't charge me.

As for number 2 - I buy suitcases and pillows from Walmart. Two enemies - movement and glass to glass contact. Wrap each bottle in clothes, pack suitcase tight with protection on all sides (a pillow underneath and above then stuff around the sides). Don't put more than 5L of alcohol in each suitcase (if it's about 23% that's actually illegal as it's dangerous goods).

For the larger loads I will have 4-5 suitcases. For these I obviously need a friend, both for the baggage allowance (though being QF WP helps) but also for the 5L rule. Technically that's per person.
 
Sure.

Lets say 10L of rum, 35%, bought at US$150.

1. Volume of beverage * ABV (as percentage) = total volume of pure alcohol
So 10 * 0.35 = 3.5L

2. Add the total purchase price excluding tax. Convert to AUD.
AUD$212

3. Look up the customs tarrif for beverage of choice. Multiply that by the volume.
Link is here: Chapter 22

For rum, it's $85.36/L (again, this is L of pure alcohol, not L of rum)
So, 85.36 * 3.5 = $298.76.

Some tarrifs include a value percentage as well (ie, $80/L + 5%). If that's the case, add that component too.
For rum, this would be an additional $10.60. However, there's lots of national exceptions, which will exclude this. This component is not applicable to US rum.

4. Add the numbers for part 3, that is the total duty.
So $298.76

5. Add this to the value of the goods.
$298.76 + 212
= $510.76.

6. Calculate GST at 10% of part 5. That is the total GST.
=$51.07

7. Add parts 4 and 6 together. That's the total payable.
=$349.83.

Through the mail they can also charge you an assessment fee (they also count the shipping cost in the calculation of GST). I don't believe they do that in person and they didn't charge me.

As for number 2 - I buy suitcases and pillows from Walmart. Two enemies - movement and glass to glass contact. Wrap each bottle in clothes, pack suitcase tight with protection on all sides (a pillow underneath and above then stuff around the sides). Don't put more than 5L of alcohol in each suitcase (if it's about 23% that's actually illegal as it's dangerous goods).

For the larger loads I will have 4-5 suitcases. For these I obviously need a friend, both for the baggage allowance (though being QF WP helps) but also for the 5L rule. Technically that's per person.
Thanks for your very detailed answer. Until now we have taken a fold up bag strong enough to check in and filled it with unbreakables and packed the sake in bubble wrap then near the centre of our hard side luggage. Never had a breakage.
 
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One more comment - the good news is that sake is specifically mentioned under 2206.00.30 and is duty free. Only GST to pay if they enforce it.
 
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